Time Warner Cable is changing its channel lineup in the Syracuse area starting June 18.Time Warner Cable

"Honey, what channel is our show on?"

For many Central New Yorkers, the answer to that question is about to change. Time Warner Cable is beta testing a new genre-based channel lineup in Syracuse starting June 18.

A letter sent to TWC subscribers explains many television channels are being shuffled around to group similar genres together, such as sports, news and children's programming. "This will make it easier to navigate the channels and quickly find what you want to watch - and to discover other programming you might also enjoy," the letter adds.

According to Multichannel News, the nation's second-largest cable company is first testing it in the Syracuse area. If it proves successful, Time Warner Cable will roll out the same changes in other markets in August.

For starters, basic cable subscribers who only have access to channels 1-99 can breathe easy: Those channels are not moving.

Everything above channel 99 is shifting elsewhere, though. No TV stations are getting lost in the shuffle, either -- subscribers will receive the same channels previously found in their service packages, just at different locations.

Syracuse's basic cable channels will appear in three locations after June 18: WSTM-TV (NBC) will be on channels 3, 104 and 1215; WSTQ (The CW) will be on 6, 105 and 1220; WSYR-TV (ABC) will be on 9, 101 and 1200; WSYT (Fox) will be on 8, 103 and 1210; and WTVH-TV (CBS) will be on 5, 102 and 1205.

Meanwhile, channels in the 100s will focus on entertainment, life and style (such as Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, BET). Channel 200 will be YNN, and the rest of the low 200s will be news networks like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-Span and The Weather Channel.

Channels from 250 to 270 will be Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and other networks for kids and teens. Music TV stations like MTV Hits, Palladia and CMT will be in the 285-299 block, though MTV itself will be on channels 28 and 137.

Sports will be moving to channels in the 300 range, starting with ESPN and its secondary channels. Other networks include NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and Time Warner Cable Sports, where Syracuse University sports fans will be able to watch football and basketball games on the ACC Network.

Though it may look confusing, the new lineup is no longer broken up by high-definition and standard definition channels. Time Warner Cable says HD televisions will automatically display shows broadcast in HD on any channel as high-definition.

Also, the multiple-service operator tells customers DVR recordings and parental control settings will automatically update as well. However, the letter it sent encourages subscribers "to review all scheduled recordings after the change."

The changes take place June 18 for the city of Syracuse and its suburbs, as well as Auburn, Cortland, Fulton, Oswego and the Rome/Oneida/Camden/Sylvan Beach area.

Similar shuffling will occur June 20 for Jefferson and Lewis Counties, plus Boonville, Champlain, Malone, Massena, Ogdensburg and Potsdam. On June 25, the same will happen in Candor, Hamilton, Ilion, Old Forge, Ithaca, Utica and the Tri-Lakes area.